Theory session

Surviving Mosport

Monday, 05 August 2013 08:36
Joe Lapin

SURVIVING MOSPORT By Joe Lapin

In June, I had a glorious DE (Driver Education) session at Mosport, (Canadian Tire Mosport Park), with the Toronto UCR (Upper Canada Region) group. I had recently made several modifications to my car, and having enjoyed these dramatic improvements on the road, I wanted to test the changes on the track. I enrolled with my pal Terry, and though we are both 'signed off' drivers, we entered the instructed Yellow run group.

As my first season of Driver Education came to a close, I reflected on the incredible journey of learning that I had enjoyed in the Rennsport DE events. At my advanced age of 66, developing a consuming passion is not an easy task. Many of my peers are overwhelmed with negative thought patterns of declining health, financial insecurity, marital issues, angst about their children, and many other sad topics. To the uninitiated, the experience of driving on a racetrack is an abstract fantasy, but for those fortunate enough to participate in DE events, their lives change irrevocably. To learn is to grow!

In 2009, after a lifetime appreciating sports cars, I finally decided to satisfy a long held dream, and acquire a red Ferrari. At age 7, my first Dinky toy was a Ferrari, and I spent my adolescence making Ferrari models, and reading about Wolfgang Von Tripps, Phil Hill, et al. Thereafter, owning a Ferrari was a lifelong dream, and a logical indulgence to make a reality.

After intense research amongst the various mechanics and experts that I knew, and as an industrial designer, it soon became obvious that a Porsche was a far superior product. In the 70’s, I had two 914’s, the baby Porsche, yet I had always lusted after a ‘real’ Porsche, a 911. I had been aware of the early 911’s tendency to oversteer, so I prudently convinced myself that an all wheel drive model was my best option.